LINUX AUDIO FIX FOR HUAWEI AMD LAPTOPS

Walther White <[email protected]> Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:47:06 +0000
Newsgroups	org.alsa-project.alsa-devel
Message-ID	<3pZ5MOlm5zlq8xTJrCBs8rDuBniv3lHY1MgF9oAmFstfU7-lFF_j8fo-ZvLhxBaSkFEBp_FyrLZ8LLozvL4tsUZEBrgDrs_EZbQxMBImzIo=@proton.me>
================================================================================LINUX AUDIO FIX FOR HUAWEI AMD LAPTOPS
================================================================================

Author: Linux Community / Michael Lorentz
Date: July 2026
Hardware: Huawei MateBook with AMD Ryzen processor (CX11970 audio codec)
System: Linux Mint / Ubuntu / Other distributions with PipeWire

================================================================================
STEP-BY-STEP SOLUTION
================================================================================

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Audio on built-in laptop speakers does NOT work.
Audio on headphones connected to the mini-jack DOES work.

================================================================================
STEP 1: CHECK AUDIO DEVICE STATUS
================================================================================

Open a terminal and run:

$ pactl list short sinks

If you see "SUSPENDED" status for the speaker device, this confirms the problem.

Check if the sound card is detected:

$ aplay -l

You should see a card with the CX11970 codec (or similar).

================================================================================
STEP 2: IMMEDIATE AUDIO RESTORATION (QUICKEST METHOD)
================================================================================

Perform a full system restart:

$ sudo reboot

After restart, speaker audio should be restored.

NOTE: If this doesn't work, proceed to Step 3.

================================================================================
STEP 3: MANUAL FIX (IF RESTART DID NOT HELP)
================================================================================

Run the following commands in the given order:

$ sudo alsactl init
$ sudo alsactl store
$ systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse
$ pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo
$ pactl set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo 80%

Test if audio works:

$ speaker-test -t wav -c 2

================================================================================
STEP 4: CHECK IF SPEAKERS ARE MUTED IN ALSA MIXER
================================================================================

$ alsamixer

Press F6 and select your sound card (Generic_1 or CX11970).

Check these channels:
- Master
- PCM
- Speaker
- Headphone

If any shows "MM" (muted), press M on the keyboard to unmute.
Use the arrow keys to set volume to approximately 80%.

================================================================================
STEP 5: AUTOMATIC STARTUP SCRIPT
================================================================================

To automate the fix at every system startup, create a script:

$ mkdir -p ~/bin
$ nano ~/bin/fix-audio.sh

Paste the following content:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/bash
# Audio fix script for Huawei AMD

sleep 30

# Reset ALSA
sudo alsactl init 2>/dev/null

# Restart PipeWire
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse 2>/dev/null

# Force speaker output
pactl set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_02_00.6 output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo 2>/dev/null
pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo 2>/dev/null
pactl set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo 80% 2>/dev/null
pactl set-sink-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo 0 2>/dev/null

echo "$(date) - Audio fixed" >> /tmp/fix-audio.log
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

$ chmod +x ~/bin/fix-audio.sh

================================================================================
STEP 6: ADD SCRIPT TO AUTOSTART
================================================================================

$ nano ~/.config/autostart/fix-audio.desktop

Paste (replace [USER] with your username):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Fix Audio
Exec=/home/[USER]/bin/fix-audio.sh
Icon=audio-card
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

================================================================================
STEP 7: ALLOW SUDO WITHOUT PASSWORD (OPTIONAL)
================================================================================

To allow the script to run without asking for a password:

$ sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers.d/fix-audio

Add (replace [USER] with your username):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[USER] ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /home/[USER]/bin/fix-audio.sh
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

================================================================================
STEP 8: DESKTOP SHORTCUT FOR QUICK FIX
================================================================================

Create a desktop shortcut to fix audio with one click:

$ nano ~/Desktop/Fix-Audio.desktop

Paste:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Fix Audio
Exec=gnome-terminal -- bash -c "sudo alsactl init; systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse; pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo; pactl set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo 80%; echo 'Audio fixed!'; read -p 'Press Enter'"
Icon=audio-card
Terminal=true
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

$ chmod +x ~/Desktop/Fix-Audio.desktop

================================================================================
STEP 9: RESET PIPEWIRE CONFIGURATION (IF OTHER METHODS FAIL)
================================================================================

If none of the above methods work, perform a full PipeWire reset:

$ systemctl --user stop pipewire pipewire-pulse
$ rm -rf ~/.config/pipewire
$ rm -rf ~/.config/pulse
$ rm -rf ~/.local/state/wireplumber
$ rm -rf ~/.cache/pipewire
$ systemctl --user start pipewire pipewire-pulse

Then repeat Step 3.

================================================================================
STEP 10: INSTALL PAVUCONTROL (GRAPHICAL AUDIO MANAGEMENT TOOL)
================================================================================

$ sudo apt install pavucontrol

Run:
$ pavucontrol

Go to the "Output Devices" tab:
- Find the CX11970 device (or similar)
- Click the green checkmark (Set as default)
- In the "Port" dropdown, select "Speaker" instead of "Headphones"

================================================================================
DIAGNOSTICS - HOW TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG
================================================================================

Check if the sound card is detected:
$ aplay -l

Check device status:
$ pactl list short sinks

Check available ports:
$ pactl list cards | grep -A 20 "CX11970"

Check kernel logs:
$ dmesg | grep -i "snd\|audio\|hda"

Check loaded modules:
$ lsmod | grep snd

================================================================================
COMPARING "GOOD" AND "BAD" STATES
================================================================================

Save "good" state (when audio works):
$ sudo cp -r /etc/modprobe.d /tmp/modprobe.d.good
$ sudo cp -r /etc/modules-load.d /tmp/modules-load.d.good
$ sudo cp -r /etc/pulse /tmp/pulse-system.good
$ sudo cp -r /usr/share/pipewire /tmp/pipewire-share.good
$ lsmod | grep snd > /tmp/snd-modules.good

Save "bad" state (when audio does NOT work):
$ sudo cp -r /etc/modprobe.d /tmp/modprobe.d.bad
$ sudo cp -r /etc/modules-load.d /tmp/modules-load.d.bad
$ sudo cp -r /etc/pulse /tmp/pulse-system.bad
$ sudo cp -r /usr/share/pipewire /tmp/pipewire-share.bad
$ lsmod | grep snd > /tmp/snd-modules.bad

Compare states:
$ diff -r /tmp/modprobe.d.good /tmp/modprobe.d.bad
$ diff -r /tmp/modules-load.d.good /tmp/modules-load.d.bad
$ diff -r /tmp/pulse-system.good /tmp/pulse-system.bad
$ diff -r /tmp/pipewire-share.good /tmp/pipewire-share.bad
$ diff /tmp/snd-modules.good /tmp/snd-modules.bad

If diff shows no differences - the problem is in hardware registers.

================================================================================
WHAT DOES NOT WORK - WHAT NOT TO TRY
================================================================================

The following solutions have been tested and failed:

| Method | Why It Failed |
|--------|---------------|
| Cron @reboot with delay | Runs too early |
| Systemd service after sound.target | Runs before BIOS state is fully applied |
| Disabling suspend in WirePlumber | Does not address hardware register state |
| Blacklisting ACP modules | Does not reset hardware state |
| Kernel parameters | Cannot override hardware register state |
| Watchdog scripts | BIOS does not create configuration files |

================================================================================
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
================================================================================

The problem occurs because BIOS/UEFI during initialization writes the audio
controller state to hardware registers. Linux reads this state and applies it,
which causes speakers to be marked as "unavailable."

The state is stored in HARDWARE REGISTERS which:
- Are not accessible via software tools
- Are only reset during a full POST (Power-On Self-Test)
- Are not dependent on configuration files

This is why software solutions (scripts, file modifications) cannot fix the
problem if the cause is in the hardware registers.

================================================================================
SUMMARY - MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
================================================================================

1. SYSTEM RESTART - always restores audio
   $ sudo reboot

2. MANUAL FIX - when restart doesn't help
   $ sudo alsactl init
   $ systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse
   $ pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_02_00.6.analog-stereo

3. STARTUP SCRIPT - automate the fix
   Create ~/bin/fix-audio.sh and add to autostart

4. DESKTOP SHORTCUT - one-click quick fix

================================================================================
IMPORTANT NOTE - THE F12 / F2 BIOS ISSUE
================================================================================

During extensive testing, a critical discovery was made regarding how the
problem is triggered:

| BIOS Entry Method | Effect on Audio |
|-------------------|-----------------|
| F12 (boot device selection menu) | ❌ Speaker audio STOPS WORKING |
| F2 (BIOS configuration / boot order) | ✅ Audio remains INTACT |

THIS MEANS:
- Entering BIOS itself is NOT the problem
- The problem is the SPECIFIC hardware initialization mechanism used by F12
- If you need to change boot settings - use F2, not F12

HOW THIS WORKS:
1. BIOS/UEFI via F12 initializes the audio controller in a specific mode
2. This state is written to hardware registers
3. Linux reads and applies this state
4. The state causes speakers to be marked as "unavailable"
5. The system defaults to headphones as output

RECOMMENDATION:
- Avoid using F12 (boot menu) unless absolutely necessary
- Use F2 (BIOS configuration) to change boot order
- If you must use F12, perform a full restart without entering BIOS afterward

================================================================================
END OF REPORT
================================================================================
publickey - [email protected] - 0x75214908.asc (application/pgp-keys, 665 B)
signature.asc (application/pgp-signature, 343 B)